December 2007
Manager's Message ~
Some Interesting Findings
In October, MVEA hosts four lamplighter meetings in different parts of our system to update members on issues facing their cooperative. During this year's meetings, we asked those attending to fill out a survey focusing mainly on renewable energy and energy conservation. Through this survey our members indicated several priorities:
• The government should not mandate the development of renewable energy resources unless it is only to provide incentives.
• The majority have not considered installing renewable generation resources.
• Over half have replaced some of their incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent bulbs.
• Most of those polled only purchase Energy Star rated products
• Most would be willing to pay up to $2 extra on their bill to reduce carbon emissions
• Nearly all agree MVEA should oppose legislation that will increase the cost of electricity to the membership without any added benefit.
• Affordable electric rates were their highest priority.
Of the members surveyed, there were more on the east side of the system than the west that have already installed some sort of renewable generation. From the results, I feel that MVEA is on the right track regarding our promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy.
I thought you might find the following article interesting regarding the electric financing arm of the federal government, RUS. MVEA utilizes RUS on occasion for loans to build new infrastructure and upgrade our existing facilities.
Recent legal efforts aimed at stopping the Federal Rural Utilities Service (RUS) from financing at least seven coal-fired power plants are misguided attempts to score points in the climate change debate, according to NRECA experts.
“The reality is that co-ops generate less than 5 percent of the nation's electric power,” stresses Chuck Penry, NRECA associate director of government relations. “And environmental groups opposing these projects don't realize that the federal government subsidizes all three electric utility sectors (investor-owned, municipal, and co-op) or RUS's very limited role in assisting rural electric systems.”
In fact, subsidies provided to the nation's 172 investor-owned utilities—in the form of investment tax credits, accelerated depreciation, and other tax breaks—average $35 per customer, Penry adds, while roughly 2,000 city and borough-owned municipal electric systems get even more help, $55 per consumer, mostly through the ability to issue tax-exempt bonds.
“Meanwhile, federal assistance to 656 electric co-ops with outstanding RUS dept runs a distant third, averaging about $1 per consumer, based on what RUS loans actually cost taxpayers after the notes are repaid with interest,” he notes. “Another 250 electric co-ops have repaid their RUS loans in full and receive no federal assistance.”
A federal lawsuit filed in July seeks to stop RUS from financing 80 percent of the 250-MW Highwood Generating Station planned by southern Montana electric Generation & Transmission cooperative, based in billings, Mont. The suit charges RUS with fostering “large scale federal investment in new coal-fired power plants that will substantially increase emissions of greenhouse gases responsible for global warming.”
The Southern Montana electric G&T loan would be for $650 million, while applications for the other six disputed generating facilities could top $5.1 billion in total, according to RUS.
Such suits don't make economic sense, insists NRECA CEO Glen English. “Coal is the one indigenous form of energy we have in abundance. We just have to find ways to burn it cleaner—but not outlaw it.”
To those who might question the usefulness of RUS today and in the future, English points out that 40 million Americans receive power trough transmission and distribution lines owned and maintained by electric co-ops, most financed by RUS.
“Consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives today care for nearly half of the utility infrastructure in the United States , spanning 75 percent of the nation's landmass,” he declares. “The entire country depends on the electric co-op network for the delivery of safe, reliable, and competitively priced power. RUS plays an important role in providing access to affordable capital to make that happen.”
Reprinted from Rural Electric Magazine, NRECA publisher.
Small Change = $1,000,000
MVEA's Operation Round-Up fund has reached the $1 million mark in the amount of grants they have been awarded to organizations and individuals since its inception in 2000. A huge Thank You to all of our contributing members and the very dedicated volunteer board of directors who have made this program such a success.
Founded by Palmetto Electric Cooperative in 1989 for the purpose of improving the quality of life for people in the South Carolina Lowcountry, the Operation Round-Up concept has spread to cooperatives all over the United States . In 1998, MVEA looked at the program at the request of our members for some sort of assistance for worthy causes within our territory. The MVEA Board of Directors felt this was a good program for our area, and the program was up and running by 2000. MVEA has approximately 70 percent of our members that round up their bill to the next dollar each month. The average contribution for the YEAR from each member is about $6. That is about what a person pays at a fast food restaurant for a burger, fries and drink. And the best part is, your contribution stays in your community.
Round-Up fund grants include Scout Troops, local service organizations, schools, volunteer fire departments and individuals who have emergency situations or temporarily fallen on hard times. The directors on the Round-Up board are all members of MVEA and carefully screen applications to ensure qualifications of Round-Up's bylaws are met before awarding grants.
With the possible participation of nearly 40,000 members, the money raised through Operation Round-Up has the potential to make an overwhelming difference in the lives of our members and the organizations in our communities. If you are not currently contributing to the Operation Round-Up fund, please consider doing so. Your small change can make a BIG change, in fact, a million dollar difference in our community.
MVEA Refunds Capital Credits
If you were a Mountain View Electric Association member in 1992 and 1993, you should have received a check in the mail in mid-December. At the October Board Meeting, MVEA Directors voted to refund capital credits in the amount of $2,390,500. This amount represents 100 percent of the remaining patronage assigned in 1992 and approximately 31 percent of patronage assigned in 1993, maintaining a 15-year rotation of capital.
Annual operating margins realized by MVEA are allocated as capital credits to all members who purchase electricity. The cooperative uses capital credits for operating capital, necessary reserves, storm damage and other contingencies. In addition, it helps reduce the amounts MVEA needs to borrow from other sources, which in turn helps to maintain rates at the lowest level possible to meet the financial ratios required by lenders.
MVEA returns capital credits to its members when financial conditions allow and bylaw provisions met. The capital credit refund is the major difference that distinguishes electric cooperatives from other electric providers. MVEA is not for profit, just for service. If you were a member in 1992 – 1993 or earlier, and did not receive a check, please contact either MVEA office.
2008 Photo Contest Begins
Get those cameras out and for that perfect picture in our service territory. Maybe you will be one of the lucky winners to have their pictures on the MVEA calendar. For instructions and entry forms for the 2008 photo contest, click here.
MVEA Scholarhip Time!
Don't miss out on the cash!
Don't miss out on the 15-college scholarships available through MVEA.
10 - $1,000 MVEA Scholarships
1 - $1,000 MVEA Vocational/Technical Scholarship
2 - $500 Tri-State Generation & Transmission Scholarships
1 - $1,000 Basin Electric Scholarship
1 - $1,000 E.A. “Mick” Geesen Memorial Scholarship
To qualify for these scholarships
- Your parents or guardians must receive electric service from MVEA
- You must be a graduating high school senior
- You must meet ACT or SAT and GPA requirements (these vary according to which scholarship you apply for).
- Applications must be received by January 15, 2008
To download scholarship applications click here or they can be picked up at either MVEA office, from your high school counselor, or by calling Deborah Skillicorn at (719) 775-2861 or (719) 495-2283.
Don't miss out on the cash!
MVEA Makes it Cheaper to go Green
Mountain View Electric Association's power supplier, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, has reduced the cost of renewable energy to its members. This was good news to MVEA's 416 green power customers who purchase 4,617 100-kWh blocks of renewable energy each month. This includes Schriever AFB. MVEA gave the participants the opportunity to pay the same amount each month and almost triple the amount of blocks they purchased or keep the same amount of blocks and lower their monthly contribution. MVEA's members can now purchase green power – derived primarily from wind farms – for $0.40 per 100 kWh block in addition to their regular billing. This is a decrease from the $1.25 per 100 kWh that was previously charged.
The theory behind the green power program is that a member can replace the amount of fossil fuel they are using by paying for an equal amount of renewable energy to be generated and placed back on the grid. Currently Tri-State sells more than 7,500 megawatt-hours of green power annually to its member systems in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming.
MVEA's green power program supports the continued development of renewable energy resources. If you would like more information on the program, please call either MVEA office at 719-775-2861 or 719-495-2283.
Effeciency Today At MVEA!
MVEA is kicking off a new energy efficiency campaign and asking for your assistance. We would like to start by lowering our monthly power costs. A little change on your part and our part could go a long way in helping us stabilize our rates and reduce our peak need for power.
First, let us explain how your co-op pays for the power we provide to our members. The largest portion of our monthly power cost is a component called a Demand Charge. MVEA is billed this charge based on our highest consumption period, or peak, of the month. By reducing these peaks and spreading out our usage, we could reduce our wholesale power cost and our need for unnecessary generation to accommodate our peak period.
Here is how you can help. We will identify our peak hours based on MVEA's past history. We will publish the forecasted peak periods in the local newspapers and in Colorado Country Life Magazine so you can target these time periods to reduce your usage on a month-to-month basis.
Your co-op has approximately 38,000 members spread out over 5000 square miles and residential usage is what drives our monthly peak. If you could picture our usage curve on a daily basis, it starts out low and rises dramatically when everyone gets up for work and school. Then around 9:30 a.m., it drops back down until the evening peak. The evening peak varies throughout the year based on when the sun sets. People generally go into the house after the sun sets and turn on lights, prepare dinner, take showers and start laundry. These types of activities help drive our peak. In the wintertime, this peak usually occurs between 5 and 6:30 p.m. and in the summer, between 8 and 9:30 p.m. With a little concentrated effort and awareness of these time periods, we could take a few giant steps toward reducing this peak demand. The smallest of adjustments from each of us could make a big difference. With a force of 38,000 cooperative members and neighbors, we can definitely make an impact.
For those of you that have the flexibility to shift the majority of your power usage to off peak periods, MVEA offers a time of day rate. This rate's peak times are between 5:30a.m-12:00p.m and 4:30p.m-10:30 p.m. While this rate will benefit you with lower energy charges during off peak times, you will pay a premium for energy used during the peak times as well as a small increase in the monthly facility charge. Please feel free to contact our office with any questions regarding our time of day rate.
So, let's ban together and get the ball rolling. Watch for our peak period notification and remember every little kilowatt counts!
Click on this link to view the PEAK CHART.
Need Help Paying Your Utility Bill? Click Here
Give the Gift of Light
MVEA Sponsors Christmas Lighting Contests
MVEA will provide credit on electric bills as prizes for organizations wishing to organize home lighting contests over the holidays. The organization must be a non-profit to qualify. Homeowners organizations are also eligible for the sponsorship. For more information on sponsoring a contest, contact Deborah Skillicorn at either MVEA office.
Angel fire 4-H will be hosting their contest again this year. If you are within the following boundaries, you are eligible to participate: North boundary – Falcon Highway ; East boundary – Calhan Highway ; South boundary – Squirrel Creek and West boundary – Curtis Road . Please contact Ms. Gillis at angelfirekids@aol.com if you have any questions. Entries are available at Henderson Propane, Fuel B's and 94 Kountry Store. Entry deadline is December 10.
Get in the LOOP with compact florescent light bulbs
Fund raising opportunities!
MVEA urges you to join in conserving power by installing compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in your home and business. The Energy Star© qualified bulbs can last up to 10 times longer than a standard light bulb and use 2/3 to ¾ less energy.
The first CFL bulbs were developed in the 1980's and were expensive. Many people complained about dim light output, flickering, noise, funny colors and sizes that were too big to fit in many fixtures. Today's CFLs cost much less while offering great performance. They have instant turn-on, quick warm-up and great light quality. They come in a wide variety of shapes, most of which are no larger than the standard bulbs they replace.
MVEA has joined the national Energy Star© campaign to encourage all Americans to install CFLs. A component of this effort is MVEA's CFL Fund Raiser in which non-profit organizations can sell CFLs as a fundraiser for their organization. MVEA will provide these light bulbs to the non-profit groups at less than wholesale cost. Groups can expect to make approximately $1 for every bulb they sell.
If you are a member of a non-profit group within MVEA's service territory and would like more information on how your group can participate, contact MVEA member services department at 719-495-2283 or 719-775-2861. Energy Efficiency today at MVEA!
DCP Utility Consulting
DCP Utility Consulting will be conducting an attachment audit of MVEA's overhead electric distribution system for approximately ten months (until summer 2007). The purpose of the audit is to insure that all joint use attachments to our poles are in compliance with applicable safety codes and that appropriate joint use agreements are in place for all attachments. DCP employees may require access to your property in order to complete their work on our system. They are only gathering data and should be able to complete their tasks at any given location very quickly. Please extend them the same cooperation you would extend to an MVEA employee. If you have questions please call Mike Garland at 719-495-2283 or 800-388-9881.
